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When you're trying to get pregnant, your bed takes center stage in more ways than one. Sure, there's the obvious lovemaking part (though truthfully, who says that needs to be relegated to the bed?), but there's something else that you should be doing each day when you hit the sack: getting some serious shut-eye (kinda obvious, huh?). Just like a good prepregnancy diet, catching enough z's can help improve your chances of producing a little one (who, in an ironic twist, will be the one preventing you from catching any z's once he or she's born!). In fact, skimping on sleep now can lead to irregular periods — something a hopeful mom-to-be certainly doesn't need.

Similarly, sufficient sleep is key to staving off stress, which can also undermine your fertility (via hormonal high jinks that can delay or prevent ovulation) and complicate pregnancy. Plus, if you're charting your basal body temperature to help better understand your cycle, you need adequate, consistent slumber to get the best results.

So take advantage of your baby-free home (for now, at least) and sink into dreamland guilt-free. Nap often, turn in early, and stay in bed late (unless you're charting, in which case it's better to maintain regular nod-off and wake-up times) — with the goal of catching six to nine hours of sleep per night. If sleep proves elusive, turn to tried-and-true home remedies such as a consistent bedtime routine, an evening bath (add some lavender-scented bubbles for a special treat), or a warm-milk or chamomile-tea nightcap. During the afternoon, avoid caffeine and chocolate so you're not wound up when you're trying to wind down.

Still wide-awake? If you find yourself becoming an expecting-to-expect insomniac, seek advice from your practitioner. He or she can help you find a safe solution to your sleepless nights (because some prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids, including melatonin, can suppress fertility or endanger a newly conceived baby). Once you find the right getting-to-sleep strategy, remember the advice of many an experienced mom: Sleep now, because you'll never get enough once your baby's on board.

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